The utility trend is everywhere — how ‘It’ girls wear the look
Colder weather is (unfortunately) on the horizon, which means it’s time to introduce heavier, more functional fabrics into your wardrobe. If a teddy jacket or sweater dress come to mind, that is all well and good; however, may we instead interest you in the fall/winter trend that’s kept fashion week buzzing? Cargo and utility.
If you kept up with any fashion week coverage, it was hard to miss the parade of cargo and parachute pants, camouflage, and utility jackets dotting the crowds in New York, Milan, Paris, and London.
The trend has been widely adopted by influencers as one of the season’s Insta-worthy captures and was featured in the fall/winter 2022 collections of Max Mara, Proenza Schouler, Acne Studios, and Ulla Johnson.
-40%
Max Mara
Cropped cargo jeans Blue
£129.00
£215.00
Mytheresa
-35%
Proenza Schouler
drawstring-fastening cargo trousers - Black
£286.00
£440.00
FARFETCH
-30%
Ulla Johnson
Bianca high-rise wide-leg jeans Blue
£336.00
£480.00
Mytheresa
-50%
Proenza Schouler
mid-rise cotton cargo pants - Green
£275.00
£550.00
FARFETCH
While cargo pants are by-and-large the focal point of the trend, they are by no means the only player.
According to the shopping behaviour of Stylight users, searches for parachute pants top the list of trending products, seeing a whopping +977% increase in clicks compared to last year.
What are parachute pants?
Parachute pants tend to have multiple pockets, similar to their better-known counterpart, cargo pants. However, unlike the fabric versatility of cargo pants, parachute pants are usually made from lighter nylon fabric, inspiring the airy name. Additionally, parachute pants are characterized by an elastic waistband and have a baggy fit but are tight or fitted around the ankle. This trend has been especially popular with Gen Z and has seen viral success on TikTok.
-50%
Frenken
Runner Parachute Pants Trousers Blue
£230.00
£460.00
Labels
James Perse
parachute poplin pants - Black
£472.00
FARFETCH
Christophe Lemaire
Drawstring Parachute Pants Grey
£1,090.00
Labels
Cargo pants
Next to parachute pants, the classic cargo style has seen a similar (albeit smaller) jump on Stylight, with a click increase hovering around +60%.
-18%
The North Face
four-pocket convertible pants - Brown
£92.00
£112.00
FARFETCH
-30%
Polo Ralph Lauren
Canvas cargo pants Green
£189.00
£270.00
Mytheresa
Camouflage
Now you see me, now you don’t. What we do see, for certain: a +58% increase in clicks on camouflage prints.
-60%
Converse
PATTA ALL STAR CHUCK TAYLOR 70 Camouflage Motif Cordura High size 37,5
£62.12
£155.30
GLAMOOD
-44%
Atlantic Stars
FOOTWEAR - Trainers on YOOX.COM Black
£74.00
£133.00
Yoox.com
-60%
Diesel
Utility Bomber Jacket with Camouflage Motif size 36
£164.84
£412.10
GLAMOOD
Utility jackets
Last but certainly not least: utility jackets. The practical style has enjoyed a click increase of +29% on Stylight, cementing itself as a staple in the overall utility trend.
-30%
Fat Face
FatFace Brea Dark Red Quilted Coat
£94.00
£135.00
FatFace
-60%
Diesel
Utility Bomber Jacket with Camouflage Motif size 36
£164.84
£412.10
GLAMOOD
Rick Owens
Woven Padded Bomber Tankers Flight Black
£1,270.00
Labels
-15%
Munthe
drawstring utility jacket - Brown
£605.00
£712.00
FARFETCH
